The 2018 Elantra Earns Highest Safety Rating by IIHS

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 9, 2018 – Hyundai is one of the leading brands for Top Safety Pick+ and Top Safety Pick awards in 2018, with a total of eight models being recognized. The 2018 Hyundai Elantra has earned the highest safety rating by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) with a Top Safety Pick+ rating when equipped with optional Automatic Emergency Braking and High Beam Assist on vehicles built after December 2017. The Hyundai Sonata, Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport (built after June 2017) also have Top Safety Pick+ ratings. Today’s announcement marks a total of four Hyundai vehicles attaining the significant safety achievement. Additionally, five Hyundai models were previously recognized for 2018 Top Safety Pick, including the Hyundai’s Ioniq Hybrid, Elantra, Elantra GT, Sonata and Tucson when equipped with optional front crash prevention and specific headlights.

To qualify for the Top Safety Pick award, vehicles must have good ratings in five IIHS crashworthiness tests — small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints, an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention and an acceptable or good headlight rating. For the Top Safety Pick+ designation, vehicles must also gain an acceptable or good rating in passenger-side small overlap front tests and improved headlight rating. Features which helped these vehicles garner these recognitions included (but were not limited to) optional front-crash prevention, specific headlights and excellent performances in IIHS track tests at various speeds.

Elantra offers a wide array of advanced safety technologies, often reserved for luxury cars, to provide another defensive safety layer for its passengers beyond the standard safety system. Available Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection is a technology that utilizes both the front forward facing radar and camera through sensor fusion to detect a vehicle or pedestrian, and warn the driver of a potential collision. If the driver does not react to avoid the impact, the system will apply emergency braking in certain circumstances.

Additional Elantra-first safety technologies include available Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keep Assist System, Blind Spot Detection with Rear Cross-traffic Alert and Lane Change Assist, and a rearview camera, now with dynamic guidance. The Lane Keep Assist System uses a forward-facing camera to detect lane markings and will alert the driver if the vehicle drifts outside the lane without signaling. The system will apply corrective steering assistance if necessary, and is another active safety tool to assist Elantra drivers and help prevent accidents.